Interesting Rumor

[4 Caps]

Just saw on twitter that the Oilers are looking to trade Jesse Puljujarvi who was the 4th overall pick in the 2016 draft and that the Caps have expressed interest and have offered Burakovsky in return.  Last sason Puljujarvi had 12 goals and 8 assists in 60 some games.  This year in 29 games he only has 3 goals and 2 assists.  He is listed as 6’4” and 203 lbs.  I have no idea whether there is any merit to this rumor but one thing to consider is that Burakovsky was a teammate of McDavid’s on the Erie Otters in the OHL in 2013-14.  I don’t know if they were linemates but Burakovsky scored 41 goals and had 46 assists so I suspect they were. 


While Burakovsky has played pretty well the last couple of games,  this may be a case where a change in scenery may benefit both players.  Also this would free up some cap space because Puljujarvi is still on his entry level contract. 

[alta]

It wouldn't be the first time a player blossomed somewhere else, won't be the last either. I say do it.

[waynerivers]

We need help on defense, not up front.  That trade won't do anything for us.

[ArJunaZ]

We need help on defense, not up front.  That trade won't do anything for us.

I'm with you. We are heavily armed up front, if they get their shit back together, which I'm sure they will.

[alta]

Technically yes, the only thing the Caps need right now, other than to get their collective heads out of their asses, is a top Dman. They can't do that without freeing up cap space though, and moving Bura does that, even if it for another foreward. Trading Bura for a Dman is the ideal way to go, but we don't know what deals are being worked, or available. This trade may be the best way to get what they need. I also have zero interest in a rental, someone that's only here for the rest of the season. They need to get a full season or two out of the trade. Otherwise I don't think it's worth the effort.

[zerofox]

While I'm afraid of another Forsberg situation where Bura goes somewhere else and kicks ass while we're stuck with underperforming assets in return, I do think we just have a greater need on defense and the Bura experiment hasn't really panned out, so perhaps it is time to trade him. Vrana is coming along quite nicely and makes me quite confident in the top 6. And I think a guy like Stephenson can do just fine on the 3rd line. There's not much room for Bura and not at $3 million a year.

Meanwhile our defense gives me concern. We have 4 guys I'm pretty comfortable with (yes I know they make their fair share of mistakes), but the bottom six is a combination of rookies/Orpik, which worries me.

Bura for a defensive player would bring a bit more balance to our team

[PUCKNRUSH]

Trading Bura doesn’t do anything to help our D woes, of course, but it doesn’t hurt our defensive problems either!  It’s a totally separate issue!!
Defensive help is our #1 priority, to be sure, but THAT issue, doesn’t mean we don’t try to make other moves, of a lesser priority, when available!!
The timing of trade deal availability, is rarely in sequence with any teams order of prioritized needs! You basically take ‘em when you can get ‘em, if the timing SO HAPPENS to line up with a need!


Bura’s overall level of play, over several seasons, suggests to me that he is UNLIKELY to blossom later, as he has been given a BOATLOAD of quite varied opportunities, under different coaches AND with varied lines and combinations!!
IMO, he has been extended opportunities, uniquely longer and more numerous than most younger players ever get!  Most likely due to the individual raw talent he certainly possesses, but unfortunately shows itself in such roller coaster waves, and with no real rhyme or reason to pin point ANY predictability as to a pattern of when it MAY show itself!!
This leaves his coaches BAFFLED, as to what works to bring his potential out!!  This is a far worse dilemma, for a coach, again IMO, than if a guy were to just completely suck!  Hell that’s easy!


 Of course, if this rumor is true, you trade him!  Since Bura is more of a loner type player, his positive playing moments  DO help the line he’s playing on somewhat,  but when he’s at his negative periods,  his harm to the line he plays on, is of a deeper degree, and does not equally offset his positive times!!


 Personally I don’t think Bura has the mental wherewithal to play in the NHL.
So we will still have a defense priority number one issue, existing until the trade deadline. That won’t change whether Bura is here or not!


Rush

[PUCKNRUSH]

While I'm afraid of another Forsberg situation where Bura goes somewhere else and kicks ass while we're stuck with underperforming assets in return, I do think we just have a greater need on defense and the Bura experiment hasn't really panned out, so perhaps it is time to trade him. Vrana is coming along quite nicely and makes me quite confident in the top 6. And I think a guy like Stephenson can do just fine on the 3rd line. There's not much room for Bura and not at $3 million a year.

Meanwhile our defense gives me concern. We have 4 guys I'm pretty comfortable with (yes I know they make their fair share of mistakes), but the bottom six is a combination of rookies/Orpik, which worries me.

Bura for a defensive player would bring a bit more balance to our team

Couple of good points Zero!!👍👍
ABSOLUTELY, Bura for a defenseman would kill two birds with one stone, potentially!


AND, The Vrana/Bura individual growth situations, is the PERFECT comparison/contrast for one player who DOES respond, after coaching corrections, and one who DOES NOT!!
It’s a “poster boy” example, that illuminates well, the upside, and downside stories, of young player growth in the NHL!!


Rush

[Mickstix]

Unfortunately, this team never does anything proactively.. They'll hold Burt too long (past the deadline) then he'll walk next year when they can't justify a 3 mil offer.. Only thing that changes that, imo, is if things go way off the rails between now and the deadline.

[DC_1908]

While I'm afraid of another Forsberg situation where Bura goes somewhere else and kicks ass while we're stuck with underperforming assets in return, I do think we just have a greater need on defense and the Bura experiment hasn't really panned out, so perhaps it is time to trade him. Vrana is coming along quite nicely and makes me quite confident in the top 6. And I think a guy like Stephenson can do just fine on the 3rd line. There's not much room for Bura and not at $3 million a year.

Meanwhile our defense gives me concern. We have 4 guys I'm pretty comfortable with (yes I know they make their fair share of mistakes), but the bottom six is a combination of rookies/Orpik, which worries me.

Bura for a defensive player would bring a bit more balance to our team

Even if he went somewhere else, so what?  FFF wasn’t gonna amount to jack shit here anway.  The reason he gets the points he does is he plays Ovies role for Nashville, not because he’s a 200ft solid player. He would probably just be another Bura here.


However, given his current performance, and GMBetaMales (who voted for the FFF trade BTW), ability, were gonna end up on the short end of this, probably an older veteran with ANOTHER shitty contact

[4 Caps]

DC thanks for your input.  Always such positive comments. 

[canadiancapman]

Just saw on twitter that the Oilers are looking to trade Jesse Puljujarvi who was the 4th overall pick in the 2016 draft and that the Caps have expressed interest and have offered Burakovsky in return.  Last sason Puljujarvi had 12 goals and 8 assists in 60 some games.  This year in 29 games he only has 3 goals and 2 assists.  He is listed as 6’4” and 203 lbs.  I have no idea whether there is any merit to this rumor but one thing to consider is that Burakovsky was a teammate of McDavid’s on the Erie Otters in the OHL in 2013-14.  I don’t know if they were linemates but Burakovsky scored 41 goals and had 46 assists so I suspect they were. 


While Burakovsky has played pretty well the last couple of games,  this may be a case where a change in scenery may benefit both players.  Also this would free up some cap space because Puljujarvi is still on his entry level contract.

Bura didn't play on McDavid's line, I use to go watch them play whenever they played in Kitchener and in the playoffs against Guelph. They were only together on the PP

[DC_1908]

DC thanks for your input.  Always such positive comments.

Just bein objective and logical.


It is very unlikely, almost certain his market value is as high as this thread is saying.  Who is gonna give the caliber of player we need for a mid twenties head asr’s with a 3mil contract regardless of his “skill”?  Then factor in other teams know the position were in and what we need, so they will assuredly want us to take a big contract even with our current space.


To get a Dman we expect and the contract we need, we should expect that we will need to pay out the ass for it: ie Varana, Bowery, Orlov, Colpey, or maybe even Oshie.


Now we know Monumental will not trade more starters than Bura, IF they’ll do that.  And without throwing more in, were not gonna get an instant fix for the D.

[DC_1908]

A top D, even a young D, a good contract l, particularly a right handed D is gonna be costly.  It’s unlikely Bura alone withh ce enough



Going for a  forward that can help the D is another option.  This would address  our horrendous faceoffs,disgracefull PK, and pathetic backchecking.

The first that comes to mind, or at least the tape is Sam Bennett out of Calgary

http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/player/9634

This is probably doable, but the cost will be high.

[Mickstix]

Those horrendous, disgraceful, pathetic Stanley Cup Champion, Division Leading losers!!    Yea, I know.. Long shot to repeat.. I still love pointing it out.. 

[4 Caps]

I don’t see the Caps going after a top 4 defenseman, their top 4 barring injury is solid and demonstrated last year that they can win with.  As in years past I expect that the Caps will add a depth defenseman and will give up a middle round draft choice to get one. 

[DC_1908]

Those horrendous, disgraceful, pathetic Stanley Cup Champion, Division Leading losers!!    Yea, I know.. Long shot to repeat.. I still love pointing it out.. 

<80% PK. . .

[DC_1908]

I don’t see the Caps going after a top 4 defenseman, their top 4 barring injury is solid and demonstrated last year that they can win with.  As in years past I expect that the Caps will add a depth defenseman and will give up a middle round draft choice to get one.

oh I forgot we won 5 Cups in a row . . .


But you’re right it’ll be depth dman, but hell have a shitty contract and cost is Bura and probably a 1st. . either way all we have is over paid depth Dman anyway

[Mickstix]

Im actually concerned on Orpik and Niskanen. Im not even sure they're doing anything wrong, just look off..

<80% PK. . .

Touche'  lol

[canadiancapman]

DC, we're going to win a few cups in the next 5 year but you'll probably still find something to criticize about the team. The league has changed and no team in it is as physical as you'd want one to be so it's time to accept that and appreciate that we aren't a team like the leafs. That team has more offense than any in the league but will get beat up and taken advantage of in the playoffs because Babcock doesn't have anyone that's tough and can skate well enough to earn a jersey every night. That's why they traded Matt Martin. As much as I dislike Ryan reeves, he's the only players other than byfuglyan that's on a team that will make the playoffs. The only player that's 1st line worthy and tough in the league is Wayne Simmonds and when he hits the free agent market this summer, he'll get 8+ Mil a season if not much more. From what I've seen out of Wilson since he served his suspension is perfect, he picks his spots now and isn't as reckless as he was before.